Saros gets free Zenith update with slower game speed and 10-minute boss runs

Housemarque released the free Zenith update for PS5 game Saros on October 19. Anyone who owns Saros can get it at no extra cost[1]. This article is as of October 20, 2026.

Bullet-hell action from the makers of Returnal

Saros is a single-player, third-person action game developed by Housemarque and released by Sony Interactive Entertainment on April 30, 2026, exclusively for PS5. It was introduced as the follow-up to Housemarque's previous game, Returnal[3]. Players take on the role of Soltari enforcer Arjun Devraj, investigating the truth behind a vanished colony on the eclipse-shrouded planet Carcosa[4]. Combat involves dodging, blocking and deflecting enemy barrages. After each expedition ends, players return to a world that has changed[3].

Making things easier: Slow Game Speed and Auto-fire

Zenith's first goal is to lower the barrier to entry. Enabling the new Slow Game Speed setting slows down the entire game. Enemy attack patterns and the number of projectiles stay the same, but players have more time to react. Players can adjust how much the game slows down and choose whether the setting activates automatically during combat or is switched on and off manually[1].

Auto-fire shoots the player's weapon automatically while they aim at an enemy. It does not handle reloading, however, so a perfect reload still requires a well-timed button press. Motion Sensor Aiming has also been added[1]. There are 10 new Protection Modifiers that lower the difficulty[1].

Raising the challenge: Trial Modifiers and Eclipse Layers

For players seeking a tougher challenge, the update also adds 10 Trial Modifiers that increase the difficulty. Completing the main game unlocks the New Game+ mode Eclipse Layers. It offers more intense runs with different rules, and starting one requires a selection of Trial Modifiers that meets a minimum requirement. There are 25 trials to choose from[1].

In Eclipse Layers, Arjun wears a crown and his armor shines gold. The more trials players enable, the larger the crown becomes. The crown is also the key to unlocking 12 new collectibles called Visions, hidden across Carcosa. Reading the additional stories contained in the murals requires a higher-level crown[1].

Overlord Rush offers sets lasting about 10 minutes

The new Overlord Rush mode is accessed through the Primary Unit at Passage, the game's hub. Players defeat the main game's Overlords, or bosses, as quickly as possible and compete on a unified leaderboard. The Incursion and Ascension sets each feature three Overlords and, according to the developer, take about 10 minutes to complete. The final set, Totality, pits players against all eight Overlords in succession. An internet connection and a PlayStation account are required to use the leaderboard[1].

On the Korean PS Store, the Saros Standard Edition costs 56,658 KRW, a 29% discount from 79,800 KRW. The sale ends at 11:59 p.m. Korea time on October 21. The Digital Deluxe Edition costs 99,800 KRW and is not discounted[2]. If you already own Saros, you can try the first Overlord Rush set at Passage after updating.

Sources

[1] Abebe Tinari (Housemarque). 사로스: 제니스, 대규모 무료 컨텐츠 업데이트 지금 이용 가능. PlayStation.Blog (Korean edition), October 20, 2026.

[2] Sony Interactive Entertainment. 사로스 PlayStation Store 페이지(한국). Includes prices and the sale end time. Accessed October 20, 2026.

[3] Sony Interactive Entertainment. SAROS Launches Worldwide Exclusively on PlayStation 5. Press release, April 30, 2026.

[4] Sony Interactive Entertainment. 사로스 공식 게임 페이지(한국). Accessed October 20, 2026.